On Jan. 9, 1961, President-elect John F. Kennedy, not yet sworn in as president of the United States, addressed the Massachusetts legislature in Boston and uttered memorable words regarding the “high court of history” deciding fulfillment of responsibilities to our nation. He declared: “Courage – judgment – integrity – dedication – these are the historic qualities which, with God’s help … will characterize our government’s conduct in the four stormy years ahead.”
As our new mayor settles into Room 200 at City Hall, San Franciscans often ask me to grade his performance. He’s certainly chosen an extremely well-qualified person (Staci Slaughter) as his chief of staff, replacing Sean Elsbernd, Esq., a former Board of Supervisors member before ex-Mayor London Breed hired him. Slaughter is a long-time San Francisco Giants executive and daughter of Dan Walters of Cal Matters, who knows more about California politics and government than anyone in our state.
San Franciscans have been abuzz these last several months over the controversial permanent closure of a section of the west side’s Upper Great Highway. Enough so, that a recall effort has launched against District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio for his role. But from the looks of it, average residents see little evidence a recall is being undertaken.
We understand the concerns some residents have about Ocean Beach Park and its potential impact on traffic patterns. However, the reality is that Proposition K has passed, and the Ocean Beach Park project is moving forward.
The west side of San Francisco is primed for a Republican or conservative independent candidate to win a seat on the Board of Supervisors. Recent elections results coupled with analysts’ data maps overlaying how voters answered key ballot measures by district borders paint a conclusive trend: Should a viable Republican candidate throw their name in the hat for the 2026 and 2028 citywide and district elections, they would have a good chance at winning.
On Feb. 18, SFMTA is set to rubber-stamp the vague, unfunded and reckless “Biking and Rolling Plan.” This 250+ page document proposes an aggressive expansion of bike lanes, “slow streets,” and other ambiguous measures, all requiring the drastic removal of street parking and driving lanes.
It’s been said that many politicians should beg for pardons instead of granting them.
The SF Department of Elections approved a petition on Jan. 21 to recall Engardio, submitted by a group called Our Neighborhood, Our Future. That started a 120-day period to get just less than 10,000 signatures to qualify for a special election later this year.
It’s a New Year and you can count the herculean resolutions of all San Franciscans from Mayor-Elect Daniel Lurie to your humble but not always pleasing scribe. Remember that a New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other!
This year, it finally happened. The “at Strybing Arboretum” was removed from all “San Francisco Botanical Garden” signage. With this move, acknowledgement of Helene Strybing’s legacy vanished from public view. The current acreage bears less and less resemblance to what it was during its glory.
Democracy doesn’t just work when we show up to vote. It works when we step forward to lead. So, take the leap. Speak up. Run for something. You might just discover that the act of trying is a win all its own.
What we saw in the fight over Prop. K was a clash between affluent, self-interested, ideological activists and everyday San Franciscans – working families, small business owners, seniors and people with disabilities – whose lives will be negatively impacted by the longer commutes, more traffic headaches, quiet streets becoming cut-through zones and decreased access to business corridors.
Mark Twain once explained to readers in the 19th century: “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.”
So, Proposition K won. I didn’t vote for it, nor did most westside residents apparently, but it passed. The ballot measure promised to replace the stretch of the Upper Great Highway from Fulton Street to Lincoln Way with a park. But it didn’t say what kind of park. So, let’s think about this!
This is where we as citizens can continue to engage in the civic process. We can be advocates that amplify what priorities and solutions matter. Organizing around these issues clarifies one’s values.
Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon 